Casting Boys & Girls for "The Pirates of Penzance" Show

Frederic is the romantic lead of the show. He’s young, manly, heroic, innocent, a bit naive, but genuine and sincere. Must be well-spoken, an excellent singer, and believable as a romantic lead. Frederic should get lots of laughs because he’s 100% sincere and honorable in a situation that is completely ridiculous.

Mabel is the female romantic lead, the sweet and innocent daughter of the Major-General. Must sing in the soprano range (preferably in an operatic style) with excellent diction and have good comic timing. Must also be a good actor.

Swashbuckling pirate type, so think a toned down version of Captain Jack Sparrow or a less villainous Captain Hook. Needs to be a good mover for dance numbers, and a strong singer and actor with good comic timing. This character needs to be big, bold, and take command of the stage whenever s/he is onstage.

Father of Mabel and her sisters, and an upper-class (but quirky) military man. Must be able to convey a high-class, fastidious, pretentious type. Most importantly, this actor must have a good sense of rhythm and articulation for his featured song, which is delivered with rapid-fire precision.

Frederic’s nursemaid and later becomes one of the pirates. She’s an older woman (47 in the script) who has tricked Frederic into thinking she is a great beauty. This role requires excellent comic timing, an ability to be energetic and larger-than-life onstage, great singing and dancing. This actor must also be thick-skinned: Ruth is a comically older and plain woman and this is played for laughs several times throughout the show.

The Pirate King’s right-hand man and ship accountant. Bookish and fussy. Must be a good character actor, singer and dancer. Has some featured solos.

One of Major-General Stanley’s daughters. Bookish and studious. Needs to be a good singer, actor, and dancer. Has some solo singing.

One of Major-General Stanley’s daughters. Aggressive and tomboyish. Needs to be a good singer, actor, and dancer. Has some solo singing.

One of Major-General Stanley’s daughters. Younger and naive. Needs to be a good singer, actor, and dancer. Has some solo singing.

Up to 3 featured policemen who are the leaders of the band of scaredy-cat police who are pretending to be brave. Bumbling and over-the-top, these actors need to be good movers and speakers.

Additional daughters of Major-General Stanley (final number depends on number of auditioners). These actors should be good singers and dancers. Each daughter should have some individuality that will distinguish her from the others, so will develop her own character in conjunction with the director that she can portray and sustain throughout the show. Some of these daughters may have featured solos.

A band of bumbling, comic policemen who are trying to appear brave in the face of danger, even though they are a bunch of scaredy-cats. These actors should be good movers and singers. The police have funny chase and fight scenes. Will double as pirates in Act I. Some may have featured solos.

A band of over-the-top rascally pirates who are eager to serve their Pirate King. Should be good dancers, singers, and actors. The pirates are involved in funny chase and fight scenes and need to be good movers for the “Catlike Tread” number. Some may have featured solos.